霍金遺作發售 擔憂出現基因改造'超人'

Stephen Hawking's final fear was that DNA manipulation would lead to a master race of superhumans, it has been revealed.

據披露，斯蒂芬·霍金的最後擔憂是：DNA操控將催生一個由超級人類構成的優等種族。

The physicist, who died in March aged 76, thought the development could destroy the rest of humanity.

這位於今年3月逝世、享年76歲的物理學家，認爲這種發展可能毀滅其餘人類。

His last prediction is revealed in a new book of his collected articles and essays called "Brief Answers to Big Questions".

新出版的霍金文集《重大問題簡答》一書披露了他的最後預言。

He feared rich people would soon be able to edit their children's DNA to improve attributes like memory and disease immunity.

霍金擔心，富人在不久之後將能夠編輯其子女的DNA，提高記憶力和疾病免疫力等特性。

And he said that would pose a crisis for the rest of the world even if politicians tried to outlaw the practice.

他表示，即使政治家試圖用法律禁止這種做法，這也將對世界其餘人羣構成危機。

In an extract published by The Sunday Times, he wrote: "I am sure that during this century people will discover how to modify both intelligence and instincts such as aggression."

在《星期日泰晤士報》發表的一篇摘錄中，他寫道：“我確信在本世紀人們將會發現如何修正智力和本能，比如攻擊性。”

"Laws will probably be passed against genetic engineering with humans. But some people won't be able to resist the temptation to improve human characteristics, such as memory, resistance to disease and length of life."

“反對人類基因工程的法律可能會通過。但有些人無法抗拒改善人類特徵的誘惑，比如記憶力大小、抗病性和壽命長短。”